Being a quintessential feature of our heartlands, HDBs say a lot about a neighbourhood’s identity. Iconic as they may be though, that isn’t to say that all of our blocks out there are simply defined by corridors of units stacked upon each other.
Room for interpretation still exists, where many neighbourhoods still bring in an ounce of originality to their HDB block designs, making them stand apart from the rest. With these HDBs with unique designs, you’ll learn of the many blocks out there that are special in their own right, adding that touch of character to their neighbourhoods.
1. Tampines—Designed by private architects
If you were a kid in the ‘90s or early 2000s, you’ll probably recognise it. Block 497 on Tampines Street 41 was the backdrop for the Channel 8 sitcom Don’t Worry, Be Happy (敢敢做个开心人). And for many of us, that makes it unforgettable.
Image Credit: Darren Soh on Instagram
The block has a distinctive dark red brick exterior with tall pillars that give it a sort of grand, symmetrical look. It’s especially striking when you see it from the big basketball court right in front of it. There’s something charming about its old-school design; it’s neat, well-balanced, and has a kind of nostalgic beauty that’s hard to describe.
Address: 497 Tampines Street 45, Singapore 525497
2. Potong Pasir—Ski-sloped roofs
Image credit: Darren Soh on Facebook
If you’ve ever passed by Potong Pasir, you’ve probably noticed block 142 and its iconic ski-slope roof design. Completed in 1984, these flats were part of HDB’s postmodern design experiments, aimed at giving certain estates a distinctive identity and breaking away from the monotonous block layouts.
The slanted roofs weren’t just for show either; residents on the top floors enjoy dramatic interiors, with soaring ceilings that reach up to 5 to 5.5 metres, nearly double the height of modern BTO flats (about 2.6m).
The bold design was such a point of pride for HDB that these very blocks were even featured on the cover of its 1983/84 Annual Report, cementing their place as one of Singapore’s most recognisable housing icons.
Address: 142 Potong Pasir Ave 3, Singapore 350142
3. Admiralty Drive—Polygonal wedge layouts
Image credit: Roomies.sg
Far from your typical boxy flat, Blocks 486A to D feature wedge, or polygonal layouts, giving them a distinctive look. From the outside, it looks like a circle-shaped block, but the layouts are more unique than you can imagine.
Image credits: Google Maps
From above, the layout of 468A Admiralty Drive appears especially striking. Instead of forming a perfect circle, the blocks take on a polygonal shape, with wedge-like flats radiating outward from a central core.
Image credits: Yahoo! SG
Due to the irregular shape, these designs may result in quirks such as narrow entryways and compact kitchens. Some homeowners also opt for open-concept redesigns by removing walls in the kitchen; doing this dramatically expands the living space, turning it into airy layouts with no obvious “weird angles”.
Address: 468A to D, Admiralty Drive, Singapore 753468
4. Ang Mo Kio—Clover-shaped blocks
Image credit: SRX
Chancing upon a four-leaf clover is a symbol of luck. And those passing by Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2 can say the same too, with these clover-shaped blocks located just along Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
Image credit: Google Maps
Known to residents as 259 Clover @ Kebun Baru, these four 24-storey blocks are the only circular flats in Singapore. It was designed back when HDB was experimenting with giving signature designs to each housing estate.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
Unique as the exterior may be, residents have complained that their unit layouts can be impractical when it comes to renovation. This is because the units are a 5-room point block, where each of them has a floor space of one cylindrical section.
Address: 259 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2, Singapore 560259
5. Little India—Bubble lifts
Image credit: Art Bao Globe
Usually, we only encounter bubble lifts in selected shopping malls, or in five-star hotels down in the CBD whenever it’s time to blanjah ourselves for a fancy staycay.
That said, these cool lifts can also be found in Little India near Tekka Centre, which were built in 2007 when the blocks were having their lifts renovated. Residents can be treated to quite a stunning bird’s eye view of the vicinity on their way to and from home everyday.
Address: 661-663 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210661-210663
6. Toa Payoh—Y-Shaped block
Image credit: National Heritage Board, @veryrealandrew
Toa Payoh is unmistakably an old soul, housing many of Singapore’s firsts such as HDB’s pioneer satellite housing estate. Though the Dragon Playground is iconic enough, Toa Payoh also has its Y-shaped block to add to its book of landmarks in the neighbourhood.
Image credit: Google Maps
Nicknamed the “VIP” block, its 19-storey facade is a one-of-a-kind in Singapore, and was one of the neighbourhood’s tallest buildings in the 1970s. So, you can imagine the skyline it created and the allure it exuded in contrast to the relatively undeveloped portions of the neighbourhood. Plus, it’s pretty impressive that Queen Elizabeth paid the blocks a visit in 1972 on her very first trip to SG.
Address: 53 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, Block 53, Singapore 310053
7. Toa Payoh—Whimsical spiral staircases
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
Just like our grandparents with stories to share, every old neighbourhood has its own hidden gems waiting to be unearthed. For Toa Payoh, it will be these whimsical spiral staircases. Located near the neighbourhood’s library, these eye-popping yellow and blue staircases could be added to your list of charming back alleys to visit.
Address: Block 186 Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 310186
8. Queenstown & Whampoa—HDB terrace homes
Image credit: Edge Prop
Like yin and yang, the words “HDB” and “terrace houses” bring to mind images that are polar opposites. Though that occurs 99.9% of the time, Queenstown and Whampoa are the chosen ones with HDB terrace homes, rarities that were built by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), HDB’s predecessor.
A Japanese zen garden built within a HDB terrace home
Image credit: @wabisabihomu
Built between the late 1960s to early 1970s, there are around 285 of such units in Singapore across Jalan Bahagia, Jalan Tenteram and Jalan Ma’mor in Whampoa, as well as Stirling Road in Queenstown.
Those who manage to get keys to these units will have struck gold, as they’re effectively buying a terrace from $950,000, a far cry from usual landed home prices. In the HDB world though, they are undeniably the most expensive – for the record, it was this Whampoa HDB Terrace House that took the top spot as the most expensive resale unit ever sold at $1.268 million.
9. Tiong Bahru—Art deco-inspired flats
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
An era long before being the unanimous go-to for hipster cafes and quirky bookstores, Tiong Bahru was already the cool kid in the block. Proving its OG status is its art-deco inspired flats, which were pre-war developments built by the British in 1936, also under SIT.
Image credit: Urban Redevelopment Authority
The main block that stands out is one that is horse-shoe in shape, located at block 78 across Yong Siak Street, Guan Chuan Street and Moh Guan Terrace. In 2003, it was gazetted by URA as a heritage conservation site.
Address: 78 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 163078
10. Rochor—Diagonal balcony-like corridors
Image credit: @cwaikong, @aloysnaps
A neighbourhood known for housing techies’ haven, Sim Lim Square, Rochor is one of our most highly-valued districts, not forgetting to mention its Prime Location Public Housing status. Expensive resales aside, it also has its share of uniquely-designed blocks, as seen in these diagonal balcony-like corridors found in the building complex Selegie House.
The balconies are decorated with Singapore flags to celebrate National Day
Image credit: @truemy.eyes
Located just behind Laselle College of the Arts, Selegie House was one of HDB’s first ventures into building high-rise flats to accommodate the population growth during the post-war period. When construction was finished in 1963, these blocks were the tallest in Singapore, and had commercial units on top of residential ones.
Address: 8 Selegie Road, Selegie House, Singapore 180008
11. Punggol—Hexagonal designs
Image credit: ArchDaily
Like a late blooming child that has just begun to flourish, Punggol has come a long way from its kampung days, becoming one of the fastest growing towns in SG. When it comes to uniquely-designed HDBs, it has Waterway Terraces to show, a block of flats right opposite Punggol Waterway Point with hexagonal designs.
Image credit: ArchDaily, ArchDaily
Taking sustainability into account, these blocks have lots of in-built greenery in order to maximise natural ventilation. The hexagonal shape also enables the blocks to bind around each other, allowing the units to remain shaded from the sun, while creating a sense of community.
Address: 380B Punggol Walk, Waterway Terraces, Singapore 822308
12. Pasir Ris—Maritime-inspired facade
Lighthouse-inspired exterior of the blocks along Pasir Ris Street 11
Image credit: National Heritage Board
No, we are not putting forth our stance on the “East side vs West side” debate, but you can’t deny the heavenly seaside vibes found in Pasir Ris.
The name Pasir Ris comes from the Malay words “pasir” (sand) and “iris” (to shred), likely referring to the sandy beach along its northeastern coastline. Beyond its beaches and chalets, the neighbourhood also has these blocks with maritime-inspired facades that remind us of its role as our nautical getaway spot.
Image credit: National Heritage Board
Through the use of porthole and lighthouse motifs, these flats have designs that pay tribute to the Pasir Ris’ coastal heritage.
Address: Block 130 & Block 141 Pasir Street 11, Singapore 510130 & 510141
HDBs with unique designs in Singapore
Apart from being a gateway to affordable housing, HDBs are a hallmark in our everyday Singaporean life. It doesn’t hurt to take a break from the regular blocks every now and then, as these HDBs with unique designs have worked a whole magic to their surroundings in a bid to add a lil pzazz to spruce up the neighbourhood.
Other HDB-related content to check out:
- HDB bathroom design ideas
- Cheapest estates to buy a resale HDB in 2022
- HDB BTO launches for May 2022
Cover image adapted from: Darren Soh, Darren Soh
This article was originally published on 6th April 2022, and updated on 25th August 2025.
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